DUTCHMEN Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DUTCHMEN LITE 25C-GS TRAVEL TRAILER (N/A)EQUIPPED WITH TRAIL EXPRESS SIZE ST205/75D15 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES DID NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO DRY ROTTING AND UNEVEN WEAR. THE CONTACT PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES AT HIS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT CALLED BOTH THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000.

2008 MONTIVISTA 5TH WHEEL MODEL 31 LIPPERT AXLES. THESE AXLES HAVE BEEN A NIGHTMARE I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THEM ALIGNED SO THE TIRES WOULD GO DOWN THE ROAD RIGHT I HAD A COMPUTER ALIGNMENT DONE. I WORE OUT THREE TIRES BEFORE DISCOVERING WHAT WAS GOING ON. I HAD CALLED SIERRA RV IN ROY UTAH THEY SENT ME TO DUTCHMEN, DUTCHMEN WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING AND SENT ME TO LIPPERT. I DO BELIEVE THAT MY AXLES ARE PART OF THE RECALL. MONTIVISTA IS JUST UNDER THE 2006-2007 GRAND JUNCTION FIFTH WHEEL SAME AXLES. OTHER OWNERS OF THE MONTIVISTA LINE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. LIPPERT SAID THEY WOULD SELL ME NEW AXLES AT THEIR COST BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM INSTALLED. I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE ALLOT MORE AXLES OUT THERE THAT ARE UNSAFE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED BY LIPPERT AND COSTS SHARED WITH DUTCHMEN TO HELP ALLEVIATE THESE AXEL PROBLEMS. ALL 5TH WHEELS SHOULD HAVE THEIR AXLES CHECKED FOR ALIGNMENT AND DISTANCE BETWEEN WHEELS BEFORE THEY EVERY HIT THE ROAD. I HAVE DISCOVERED OTHER PROBLEMS THAT DUTCHMEN HAS PUT OUT AND NOT EVEN INSPECTED THEIR PRODUCT BEFORE SELLING. THE BUILT IN VACUUM FOR THE 5TH WHEELS HAD A 1 INCH GAP BETWEEN THE VACUUM HOSE AND THE CONNECTOR HOUSING. THE PLASTIC PROTECTOR FOR THE 110 VOLT WIRING BUNDLE (FAN AND LIGHT)ON THE FAN HOUSING WAS NOT EVEN ON THE METAL FRAME WORK. THIS CAUSED A SHORT AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE AND BURNED THE 5TH WHEEL UP. I HAVE PICTURES OF ALL OF THESE. DUTCHMEN DOES NOT WORK WITH PEOPLE ONCE THEY SELL YOU THE PRODUCT. THE WIRING BUNDLE SITS JUST UNDER THE MICROWAVE BETWEEN THE FAN HOOD AND MICRO WAVE. WHEN I TOOK THE UNIT APART IT WAS STILL ON. CHAR MARKS AND MELTED WIRE FROM INTERNAL HEAT ON THE WIRE CAUSE IT TO SUPER HEAT. THE IMPROPER INSTALLING OF THE HOOD CAUSED THE WIRES TO CHAFE AGAINST THE METAL AND WORE THROUGH THE INSULATION OF THE WIRE AND SHORTED OUT ON THE STAINLESS STEEL HOUSING. I STILL HAVE THE WIRES AND THE PICTURES. THERE WAS ENOUGH CHARRING TO HAVE CAUSE A FIRE. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. *TR

WE HAVE PURCHASED A USED CAMPER WHICH INCLUDES A SAMSUNG MICROWAVE WHICH STARTS WITHOUT PUSHING ANY BUTTONS. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES AND A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. APPARENTLY THE FORMER OWNER DID NOT RESPOND TO THE RECALL FOR THIS APPLIANCE. I HAVE FOUND EVIDENCE ONLINE FROM OTHER CAMPER OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE IDENTICAL EXPERIENCE. SAMSUNG SERIAL #71QN904973K, MODEL #MR5493G. PLEASE DIRECT ME TO SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP. THANKS *TR

WE HAVE A 1995 DUTCHMEN POPUP CAMPER, MODEL 1204. DURING A CAMPING TRIP THIS WEEK, WHILE TRYING TO RAISE THE ROOF ON THE POPUP CAMPER, THE SIDE BOLTS ON TWO SIDES OF THE CAMPER (4 BOLTS TOTALED) PULLED THROUGH THE ROTTED WOOD UNDER THE ROOF AND ALLOWED THE CAMPER TOP TO DROP. FORTUNATELY, WE SCRAMBLED AWAY FROM THE CAMPER JUST IN TIME. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED DEATH OR SEVERE INJURY. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION, THE WOOD ON THE SIDES AND FRONT AND BACK OF THE CAMPER ROOF IS BASICALLY DANGEROUS, SO THE CAMPER PROBABLY WILL SIT IN OUR GARAGE WHERE IT WAS STORED...UNUSABLE AND A TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY. DUTCHMEN SHOULD BE AWARE OF HOW UNFAIR THIS IS TO A CONSUMER AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES OR IS VERY SERIOUSLY HURT! *TR

I BOUGHT 4 HI RUN TRAILER TIRES FOR MY 5TH WHEEL IN APRIL, SINCE THE PURCHASE THE I TOOK THE TRAILER ON THREE SHORT TRIPS LESS THAN 200 MILES EACH. IN JULY I TOOK THE RV TO KEY WEST (A 468 MILE TRIP) ABOUT HALF WAY TO KEY WEST I LOST THE LEFT REAR TIRE, ABOUT 60 MILES FURTHER I LOST THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE AND ANOTHER 75 MILES I LOST THE LEFT REAR TIRE. ON ALL THREE TIRES THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THESE TIRES ARE NOT STORED IN THE SUN AND ARE ALWAYS AT THE PROPER PRESSURE. THE FAILURE OF THESE TIRES CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY 5TH WHEEL. AT THIS TIME I AM TRYING TO GET THE MANUFACTURES REP TO HONOR THE WARRANTY ON THE TIRES, THEY HOWEVER ARE ONLY WILLING TO REBATE ME THE AMOUNT THE DEALER PAID FOR THE TIRES NOT WHAT I PAID. AT THIS POINT THESE TIRES ARE VERY DANGEROUS FOR ANYONE TO HAVE ON THE VEHICLES AS YOU CAN SEE FROM ALL THE ENTRIES ON THE WEB CONCERNING THESE TIRES ON TRAILERS. *TR

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ISSUE WAS DISCUSSED WITH TOM BOWMAN 7/22/10 AND DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN MAILED TO HIM. I OWN A 40' FIFTH WHEEL THAT IS RATED FOR 15,500#. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY I EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW OUT. AFTER HAVING THE TIRE REPLACED I CONTINUED ON THE LAST 150 MILES OF MY TRIP TO SAN FRANCISCO. AFTER BEING IN SF FOR ABOUT 1-1/2 DAYS I NOTICED THE TRAILER WAS LEANING TO THE LEFT. SO I LOOKED UP UNDER THE RIG AND REALIZED THAT A LEAF SPRING HAD SNAPPED COMPLETELY IN HALF (NOT JUST ONE LEAF IN THE PACK - ALL SIX OF THEM SNAPPED). I WAS VERY LUCKY THE BROKEN PIECES ALL JAMMED TOGETHER BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE AXLE AND THE FRAME WITHOUT FALLING OUT. IT IS AMAZING THAT THEY DID NOT FALL OUT, AT WHICH POINT THE AXLE WOULD HAVE FALLEN OFF, THE TRAILER FLIPPED, TAKEN THE TRUCK WITH IT AND I WOULD BE EITHER DEAD OR CRITICALLY INJURED. I HAD ALL OF THE LEAF SPRINGS REPLACED ON MY RIG AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, LIPPERT INC., OF THE SPRINGS. ALTHOUGH I AM HOPING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM THEM I AM NOT SENDING THIS NOTIFICATION IN THAT REGARD. THE REASON I AM NOTIFYING YOU IS BECAUSE I FEAR THERE ARE MANY OTHER RV'S ON THE ROAD THAT THIS HAS EITHER HAPPENED TO OR IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO. I'M VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE OTHER PEOPLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DUTCHMEN GRAND JUNCTION (N/A). WHILE TRAVELING 2 MPH IN REVERSE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD SUDDENLY BROKE OFF OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE FRONT AXLE HAD BROKEN. A LOCAL MECHANIC VISITED THE CONTACT'S HOME WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE FRONT AXLE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 500.

VALVE STEMS FAILURE 5/22/2010 RIGHT FRONT TIRE MANGLED ON I 75 SOUTH OF ATLANTA GA 6/5/2010 RIGHT REAR TIRE MANGLED ON I-80/90 NORWALK, OHIO 6/6/2010 UPON CLOSE INSPECTION OF THE LEFT 2 TIRES I FOUND THAT BOTH VALVE STEMS WERE CRACKED ALSO. ONE OF THEM BLOW OFF IN MY HAND!!! I HAD TO PURCHASE 4 NEW TIRES TO REMEDY THE SITUATION!!!!! THIS IS ON A 2008 KODIAK TRAVEL TRAILER MANUFACTURED BY DUTCHMAN IN GOSHEN ,IND. *TR

MY TRAVEL TRAILER HAS CARLISLE ST225/75R15 RADIAL TRAIL TIRES. WHILE TOWING THE TRAILER ON JUNE 13TH, 2010 I NOTICED IT WAS SWAYING, EVEN THOUGH THE WIND DID NOT APPEAR TO BE BLOWING VERY MUCH AND I WAS TOWING IT USING A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING HITCH AND ANTI-SWAY BAR. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRES I FOUND THAT THE BELTS HAD FAILED ON 2 OF THE TIRES, THE RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT REAR. ON THE RIGHT TIRE THE BELTS WERE BROKEN AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE, THE LEFT TIRE HAD A BULGE IN ONE AREA. IN THE FALL OF 2009 THE BELTS BROKE AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE ON ANOTHER ONE OF THESE SAME MODEL TIRES ON THIS SAME TRAILER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DUTCHMAN GRAND JUNCTION RV WITH MASTER TRAC TIRES, LINE SIZE P235-80-R16 WHICH WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES. WHILE DRIVING ATA SPEED OF 55 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT OF THE FIFTH WHEEL TIRE THAT DAMAGED THE REFRIGERATOR WIRE AND THE FIFTH WHEEL BODY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE AND CONTINUE DRIVING. AFTER TRAVELING 30 MILES, THE REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE BLEW AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE HOT WATER HEATER, GAS LINE, UNKNOWN WIRING AND THE FIFTH WHEEL PANELING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING HOWEVER, A THIRD PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,100. UPDATED 6/19/10 *CN UPDATED 07/22/10*JB